State of Origin 2019 Game 2: Queensland v NSW – live!

Live updates from the game at Optus Stadium in PerthAny thoughts on the game? Email Richard 10.55am BST 1 min: Queensland with the kick and, with an almighty roar, and a few pyrotechnics, we’re away. 10.54am BST Acknowledgment and anthem. Here we go. The anthem reaches a crescendo and the players get into position. We’re almost there. 10.50am BST NSW are out on the pitch. Maroons just about to follow - they don’t seem to be in any sort of rush. Bit of mind games maybe? The fans in Perth are up for this. 10.45am BST Not long to go. Just enough time to read up Matt Cleary’s preview of the match.Fittler made seven changes and pundits and punters alike have been in a flap. People don’t understand why there are fullbacks in the centres, the halfback is not the dominant “quarterback”, and Latrell Mitchell is in Taree Related: All eyes on NSW and tinkerman Brad Fittler ahead of State of Origin Game 2 | Matt Cleary 10.42am BST Moses Mbye. Forget Sam Burgess’ broken eye socket, or Cooper Cronk’s fractured scapula - Mbye had what was described as a life-threatening anaphylactic shock after breakfast a couple of days ago, but will still play for the Maroons today. Still no news on what might have caused the severe allergic reaction, but I bet he eyed his Coco Pops with a degree of suspicion this morning.“I’m not quite sure what it was that triggered it. I had a handful of things that morning. I had some brekky and juice, it was a standard sort of day and it was nothing out of the ordinary.” Moses Mbye 10.36am BST Blues Mk II. Anyway, back on topic. Say what you want about Fittler’s decision to overhaul the squad - and most of us have - but he’s clearly not afraid to back his own judgement. Put bluntly, he’s wearing this one - whatever the result. If they win, he’ll be hailed as a genius, but if they lose. eesh. And if this all sounds slightly familiar it’s possibly because people were saying the same thing about Kevin Walters before Game 1. Stories of coach whisperers and bans on speaking about NSW all came with a subtle hint of “this guy is desperate”. And look how that turned out. 10.34am BST The Tonga test. Talking of raining on parades, Tonga’s highs of 2017 seemed a long time ago last night in arguably the weekend’s biggest non-Origin footy game (in this hemisphere at least). The Mate Ma’a made the scoreline semi-respectable towards the end but were outclassed by the clinical Kiwis in a 34-14 defeat. “They controlled the ruck a lot better than us, particularly with one referee, and we let a few tries through there and that was disappointing,” coach Kristian Woolf said. “Those three tries from dummy half were the most disappointing thing for me. Brandon Smith is a very good player and he showed how strong he is.” 10.30am BST The weather. Amid all the many talking points since Game 1, the weather in Perth has gone a little under the radar, so to speak. Yesterday the city centre was drenched with 60mm of rain. It’s not as bad today but the threat of showers has hung in the air all day. On a hard Optus Stadium surface with short grass, all that rain could have a huge bearing on the game. Expect the ball to skim along the surface.“We’ve prepared for that and I’m sure Queensland would have as well. The forecast, everyone tells me the forecast is right over here in WA so we’re expecting rain,” Danny Buderus said. 10.29am BST Kick-off. Apparently we’re still down for a 7.50pm (AEST) start although I always take that with a pinch of salt. 10.27am BST Is that Eskimo Joe rocking up in the rafters? If only it was Brad Fittler - then I could do my Fittler on the roof pun. Apologies. 10.20am BST The teams. A familiar Queensland side looks as imposing as ever, even without Jai Arrow, but it’s all change once again for the Blues under Freddy. Is it a better NSW side than Game 1 or have all those changes undermined team structure? Is it possible both those statements might be true? Rumours that Dale Finucane might get the nod to start at lock have been confirmed. NSW: James Tedesco, Blake Ferguson, Tom Trbojevic, Jack Wighton, Josh Addo-Carr, James Maloney, Nathan Cleary, Daniel Saifiti, Damien Cook, Jake Trbojevic, Boyd Cordner (capt), Tyson Frizell, Dale Finucane. Res: Paul Vaughan, Tariq Sims, Cameron Murray, Wade Graham. 9.56am BST Evening everyone, thanks for joining me as we head west for Perth’s first State of Origin clash.And although Game 2 is heading to pastures new, the series itself is in all too familiar territory, with Queensland just one win away from sealing the shield while the Blues search for answers after a demoralising first-up loss in Brisbane. Continue readingread full article

Source: TheGuardian

---